Concave rolled suction-cup heel.



E. D. STALFORT. CONCAVE ROLLED sucndu CUP HEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3.1911- Patented Jan. 21,1919.

WW Eflfliialforii I). STALFORT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CONCAVE ROLLED SUCTION-CUP HEEL.

Application filed November 3, 1917. Serial No. 200,134.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN D. STALFORT, a Citizen of the United States, residing at -Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have 5 invented new and useful Improvements in Concave Rolled Suction-Cup Heels, of which the following'is a specification.-

This invention relates to heel lifts. and comprehends ccrtainnew and useful improvements in heel lifts of the type illustrated in Reissue Patent 14,049.

Heel lifts such as that disclosed in the above mcntioncd'patcnt, and others of an analogous character are formed with a con- 5 cave upper surface with a view of creating a partial vacuunrwhen the lift is operatively associated with the heel of the shoe. Howeverby reason of the cross sectional configuration of the lift above referred to, which is of concave-convex form on every line of cross section, thelift is deprived of a straight edge which is an absolute necessity for the purpose of solidifying the resilient lift to the leather or wooden heel of-t'he shoe, to prevent riding of the resilient lift beyond the edges of the heel as well'as to obviate loosening of the nails or other fastening elements employed in securing the liftto the heel of the shoe. It has been found by experience, that when-a lifto'f this peculiar contour is pressed or flattened against the heel of the shoe, and subsequently secured by nails or other fastening elements, the lift has a tendency to ride or move relative to the 85 heel of the shoe, byreason of the absence of a straight edge, which as above stated is so essential in the elimination of this objection.

Again, when a lift of this contour has been associated with the heel of the shoe, the lift by reason of the inherent quality of the rubber has a tendency to resume its normal position, namely concavo-convex in cross section, and this tendency of the lift obviously results in spacing both the side and breast pdges of the lift from-theheel of the shoe, as

well as loosening the fastening elements. This is particularly true after the heel has become partly worn.

The object of the present invention is the Y provision of a concaved resilient lift curved in longitudinal and transverse section, whereby a suction-effect will be produced when the lift is applied to a shoe heel, and having the upper-edge of its forward end or 65 breast lying m a straight horizontal plane Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 19.1.9.

whereby said edge will always lie against the heel without the possibility of downward buckling away from the forward edge of the heel resulting from any loosening of the nails employed to secure the lift in place; this'construction reducing to a minimum the possibility of the lift slipping or riding upon the heel.

Another object of importance resides in providing a suction cup disposed within the concavity of the lift, with the upper edge of the cup disposed above the lowermostarea of the lift to assure spreading of the free edge of the cup against the heel proper, during the association of the lift with the heel.

The nature and advantages of the invention will" be better understood from the fol lowing detail description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, the invention residing, in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specifieation like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a shoe showing the resilient heel lift arranged against the heel proper of the shoe, prior to securing the lift thereto. 86

Fig. 2 is a. similar view showing the heel lift secured to the heel proper.

'Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the heel lift.

'Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 90 44 of Fig. 3 looking from the breast of the lift.

Fig. 5 is a similar cross sectional view looking from the back of the lift.

Referring more particularly to the draw- 96- mg, the numeral 10 designates the heel of a shoe to which my lift 11 is applied. The lift is formed of rubber and is concavcd in its. upper face, being curved in both 'longitudi- {ml and transverse scction,qas shown. An 100 important feature is the fact that the upper edge 13 of the front portion or breast lies in a straight, horizontal plane and will bear throughout its length, against theshoe heel even before the lift is secured in place. The lift, after being placed against the heel, is secured by means of nails or other similar fastening members 12 countersunk within openings 14 and passing through metallic I washers 16. After being thus secured the im of the lift-is also disposed-in contacting endriven through the openings 14 into 10, and as the central thus drawn into-close association with the a good bearing 'lVhen arranged elements 12 are the heel portion of the lift is gagement with the heel. 1n this manner the fastening heel 10, a suctionwill be produced, helping to hold the lift in lace. As the edge 1.3 is straight, there-wil be no tendencyutowa rd downward buckling at the center of the front of the lift and the danger of catching the heel and tearing it loose is greatly reduced. It will be noted that this construction greatly reduces the danger of the lift slipping or ridingupon the heel as the front edge gives- I and as rubber itself tends to gri insteado slipping. I rejecting from the centrally depressed area 17 is a suction cup 18, which is of sulficient dimensions extend above the lowermost portion of mat face of the heel from which it projects, so that when the lift is secured to the heel 10 the free edge of the cup will be properly spread against the heel. 10 to create a suction with the desired efl'ect' of maintaining the lift properly positioned u on the heel. It is a well known fact that t e bottom of the heel 1 0 in most shoes, and in fact in all shoes does not present a perfectly smooth surface, and consequently by reason of the particular size and arrangement of the cup 18, the latter will accom-' modate itself to the irregularities of the heel 10 which may exist. This of course would not be trueif the cup 18 terminated flush with the lowermost surface of the lift. Surroundinggthe cup 10 is a groove 19 and when the lift is secured to the heel 10 the free edge of the cup 18 when spread; overlies the clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The lift is thus provided with a plurality of suction areas as shown, which all cooperate or assistin maintaining the lift effectively secured to the heel proper.

'groovel?) closing thelatter inthe manner While it is believed that from the foregoing' description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that what is herein shown and described is merely. illustrative of the preferred embodiment, to

which I do not limit myself, andthat such changes in the construction, size and configuration may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is 1. A cushion shoe lift comprising a 1011- gitudinally curved body having its upper surface concaved in longitudinal and transverse section and having the upper-edge of,

its breast lying'in a horizontal plane, the

, upper side edges of the body being normally curved and lying below the plane passing through the edge at the breast and the most rearward point of the upperedge of the body.

2. concaved in its upper surface, and a suction cupformed centrally 'of said concaved portion and extending beyond the tops of the sides of the lift.

3. A cushion shoe lift comprising a resilient body concaved in its upper face, and

A cushion shoe lift comprising a body an upstanding projection formed integrally upon the center portion of the concavity,-

said projection being conically recessed to form a cup "having its edges extending above the edges of the top. a

In testimony whereof I affix signature.

EDWIN D. STALFORT. 

